Residents of Gidan-Bijimi in Kawu ward, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were thrown into fear on Wednesday night after armed bandits kidnapped a 16-year-old boy and six young girls during a late-night attack. The community lies close to the boundary between Abuja and Kaduna State, an area that has seen repeated cases of banditry in recent years.
According to residents, the gunmen invaded the village around 9:47 p.m., shooting into the air as they moved from house to house. A resident of Kawu, Mr. Suleiman Shuaibu, told reporters on Thursday morning that the attackers stormed two homes where they seized the seven youths, all aged between 16 and 23.
Shuaibu said the bandits were heavily armed and carried AK-47 rifles. Their sudden entry and the continuous gunfire caused panic as villagers ran for safety. He described the incident as terrifying, explaining that the community was caught off guard.
He also revealed that one of the kidnapped girls is his cousin, adding to the pain and fear already spreading through the small border community. “It was around 9:53 p.m. when a call came from Gidan-Bijimi community that some bandits had invaded the village and abducted six young girls. Unfortunately, my cousin sister happened to be among the victims,” he said.
Local vigilantes attempted to confront the bandits but were forced to retreat. According to Shuaibu, the vigilantes were outmatched by the superior weapons carried by the attackers. Over the years, many rural communities in the FCT have relied on vigilante groups for quick response to security threats, but they often lack the firepower needed to resist well-armed criminal groups.
The attack has deepened worries about rising insecurity in and around the FCT. The Bwari axis, particularly communities close to the Kaduna border, has suffered several kidnapping incidents. These communities sit along routes often used by bandits who operate between Niger, Kaduna, and the outskirts of Abuja.
Residents said the latest attack has forced some families to flee their homes out of fear that the gunmen might return. Many spent the night in bushes or nearby settlements, unsure of what might happen next. As of Thursday morning, the community had not established contact with the kidnappers, and no ransom demand had been made.
Kidnappings for ransom have become common in some rural parts of Nigeria, especially in the North-West and North-Central regions. Despite the presence of security agencies in the FCT, remote communities—like those in Kawu ward—remain vulnerable due to difficult terrain, slow response times, and limited patrol coverage.
The incident in Gidan-Bijimi adds to ongoing concerns about the spread of banditry from neighbouring Kaduna State into Abuja’s border areas. Several security experts have warned that these border communities are soft targets because they are far from major military formations and often lack strong infrastructure. Residents say they have repeatedly appealed to authorities for more security presence in the area.
Meanwhile, families of the kidnapped victims are still in shock and fear as they await updates. Community leaders are calling on the government to deploy more security personnel to the area and take urgent steps to prevent further attacks. They also want improved support for local vigilante groups, who are often the first responders during such incidents.
As of press time, security officials had not issued an official statement on the kidnapping. However, residents hope that the authorities will act quickly to rescue the victims and restore confidence in the community.
